Scrapbook Mixed Media Layout: Always Cute


Thank you for stopping by.  I this layout I used the contents of my April Hip Kit Club.  This is my third consecutive month with the subscription and I have enjoy each one.  I am using a picture of my sweet Doxie, Zoe, at the park.  It is a very vibrant colorful photo and wanted to keep the colors lemons and limes.  




A list of supplies used:

  • American Crafts: Amy Tangerine: Rise and Shine Collection: Lana paper
  • Webster's Pages: Dream in Color Collection: Dream in color paper
  • Faber Castell Gesso
  • Faber Castell Gelatos: Margarita mix, snow cone, and green
  • Derwent Inktense Pencils: Vivid green and sun yellow
  • Artist Loft watercolors
  • Artist Loft Modeling paste
  • Craft smart acrylic paint in Mint Green
  • Plaid Apple barrel acrylic paint in Bright Yellow
  • AC: Amy Tangerine: Rise & Shine Phrase Thickers
  • AC: Amy Tangerine: Rise & Shine wood veneers
  • Freckled Fawn cord pieces: heart shape
Here is my process video:

Thanks for watching,

Evi



Allow Me to Introduce Myself

My name is Evi.  I'm in my 30's, a New York transplant.  I gave up the boogy down Bronx to reside in Florida for the last 10 years.  I gave up the snow and cement experience for palm tress and beaches and I love it.  I do have to admit, I prefer being poolside.  

Life with Evi is a lifestyle blog dedicated to sharing my love for crafts, DIY, cooking, fashion and moments with my doxie, Zoe and my boyfriend, Miguel.  I've started blogging as a way to connect with like- minded creative, inspiring people and document my life.  

I've been a student, a waitress, a sales associate at clothing stores in the mall, a manager at Crate and Barrel and at a hotel, a student again, to a young professional.  But I need a creative outlet outside of work.  I do it for so many reasons but mostly because it meets so many needs in my life.  It offers connections for my creative side and inspires me to be a better girlfriend, daughter and dog mom.  

These days I split my time between my 9-5, walking my dog, trips to farmer's markets and Scandal date nights with my boo.  I'm the most comfortable in shorts and sneakers.  I am addicted to coffee and love watching re-runs of 90's TV shows like Saved by the Bell.  I will always say yes to staying in and cooking but love going out and having some fun.  

Part of cultivating a good life is to record it.  And that is what I am doing here.  Taking snapshots of my life and this is my window for you to peek inside.  Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.  



Evi

Scrapbook Mixed Media Layout: Unconditionally loved everyday


I am using my March Hip Kit Club for this layout.  The picture is of my doxie, Zoe and I for a walk on one of Florida's "colder" days.  It was sweater weather time and I was able to capture this selfie with her.  I wanted to use this floral printed page and color it in using my Dylusion Ink Sprays.




The supplies I used:

  • Crate Paper: Craft Market: Stitching
  • Crate Paper: Confetti: Blast
  • Dylusion Ink Sprays: bubblegum pink, funky fuscia, postbox red, squeezed tangerine, sunshine, fresh line, vibrant turquoise, calypso blue and crushed grape.
  • Heidi Swapp blue glitter alphas
  • Heidi Swapp "Favorite things" die cuts
  • Evalicious: Field Notes: Puffy Stickers
  • My Mind's Eye Enamel dots from Jubliee Wild Berry
Here is my process video:


Thank you for watching,
Evi

Scrapbook Mixed Media: Sunday Funday


For this layout I am using supplies from my March Hip Kit Club.  The picture is of my boyfriend and his two best friends as we tailgate at Sun Life Stadium for the Miami Dolphins during the 2014 season.  I wanted to incorporate the Dolphins team colors which are teal and orange so that was the inspiration for the layout with my color choices.
The supplies used are:

  • Crate Paper: Craft Market collection: Create 
  • American Crafts light kraft cardstock
  • Artist Loft Gesso
  • Fabre Castell organge Gelatos
  • Appel Barrel Mango Archylic pain
  • Stampendous Geo Bubbles background stamp
  • Tim Holtz Distress ink in Marmalade
  • American Crafts Marque Alphas
  • Heidi Swapp "Favorite things" die cuts
  • Studio Calico wood veneers
  • My Minds Eye enamel dots
  • Me and My Big Ideas "friends" sticker
  • Staz-on black ink
  • Studio G Alpha stamps
Here is my process video:

How to Go Gluten Free

So you need to go gluten free, now what? What is gluten?  Gluten is an elastic protein found in wheat, rye, barley, durum, graham, semolina, bulgar, wheat, and spelt.  Many people think that to go gluten free simply means to cut out wheat or just bread from their diet.  Unfortunately, it is a lot more complicated.  Gluten is sneaky as it is an ingredient that is in a lot of processed foods.  The common forbidden foods to stay away from are breads, muffins, bread crumbs, bagels, donuts, croissants, cereal, pizza, fried foods, pasta, crackers, cookies, pretzels, cake, brownies, pie crust, birthday cake, waffles and even beer.  When I found out that I myself had a gluten allergy, I thought this latter list eliminated all my favorite foods.  Well what the heck was I to do?
I tested positive to a gluten and dairy allergy.  My reaction to gluten and dairy is a full body rash with blisters and hives and complete itchiness.  If I wanted my skin to clear up, I had to do this right.
I am very black and white.  Yes or No.  I work well with rules.  At home, I threw out all of the obvious culprits.  In my case I also threw out all butters, cream cheeses, yogurts, and milk as I had also tested positive to a dairy allergy.  I’m not allergic to the sugar in dairy (lactose), but the protein in dairy (whey and casein).  I needed to get the temptation off of my shelves.
My first lesson, I started eating foods that were naturally gluten free.  I went to the grocery store and just filled my cart with tons of fruits and veggies and protein like beef, chicken, turkey and fish.  Seemed simple enough for me.  To avoid mistakes in the beginning I stayed away from anything labeled “gluten free” and processed or packaged in a box.  I cooked using only fresh herbs, salt and pepper and used starches like corn, rice, brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes and quinoa.
I still made mistakes along the way, again, because gluten is a hidden ingredient in things like soy sauce, marinades, gravy, broths, canned soups, salad dressings, sausage, hot dogs, jerky and chocolate.  I would eat sushi and dip it in soy sauce and get hives.  I would make a salad and use store bought salad dressings and get my rash back.  I marinaded my chicken while at work and get hives and blisters before bed.
Herein my next lesson, hard learned and I extend to you.  Start reading labels and become a gluten detective because it is not always obvious.  The vernacular on labels is wheat, wheat flour/ bread flour/bleached flour, wheat protein/ hydrolyzed wheat protein, wheat starch/hydrolyzed wheat starch, wheat germ.  But I had to learn its other “pseuudonyms” like Triticum vulgare (wheat), Tritcale (cross between wheat and rye), Hordeum vulgare (barley), Secale Cereale (rye), Triticum spelta (spelt, a form of wheat), bulgur (another form of wheat), Malt (made from barley), Couscous (made from wheat), Farina (made from wheat), Pasta (made from wheat unless indicated), Seitan (made from wheat and used in vegetarian meals), wheat or barley grass (will be cross contaminated), wheat germ oil or extract (will be cross contaminated).  If you research further, you will learn that even ingredients like vegetable protein (wheat, corn or soy), modified starch (wheat). modified food starch (wheat), natural flavors (barley), Artificial flavor (barley), hydroloyzed plant protein/ HPP, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein/ HVP, seasonings and flavorings can be made from wheat.  You have to read the labels and when in doubt, do not buy it or eat it.  For me, it is easy to know when I have ingested it because I break out in a rash with hives within minutes.  I will still be eating the meal and I will know if gluten is in it.  So it is absolutely important to read labels assiduously.
Overall, I have made my home gluten/dairy free.  Everything in my pantry and fridge is as suitable for me as I can make it.   Hopefully nothing will exacerbate my allergy.  This is very important to maintain in your home.  My home is a safe zone for me.  If you have allergies, you will understand this.   This did not happen overnight, it takes a few weeks to months to get into the swing of things.  To this day I am still learning.  My skin has cleared up.   I do have flare ups from time to time.  My outbreaks occur on my extremities mostly and my face.  So I am careful.  It is unusual as I live in Florida, to be wearing pants and long sleeves in order to cover up my rash, blister, hive covered skin.  Yes, I am vain.

Gluten & Dairy Sensitivities

I have recently been diagnosed with gluten and dairy sensitivities. I am not going to lie, I cried when I was told.  I instantly thought of all my favorite food that I wouldn’t be able to eat anymore; pizza, bagel/cream cheese, cheese in general, ice cream, glazed donuts.  I did cry.  And this right before football season.  So no beer and wings for me there.
I was having a lot of random symptoms.  I had outbreaks of my psoriasis all over my scalp, neck and elbows.  My migraines came back.  I suffered a lot of restless, sleepless nights and my friends will attest, I used to sleep easily and like the proverbial rock.  I tried Melatonin and every OTC sleep aid with no relief.  Fatigue developed and I had difficulty getting through my work day. When this usually loud, affable me is quiet and not full of sparkle there is a huge problem.  I had constant episodes of hives and rash outbreaks all over my arms, legs and torso.  They were extremely itchy and sometimes waves of burning sensations overwhelmed me.  I would have random episodes of inflammation around my eyes, hands and ankles.  Random.  Daily headaches and most of all stomach pains, bloating and dare I say, constipation.  It has not been fun to be me this year.  I chased my symptoms and went to every specialist and I was prescribed varying medications.  And nothing cleared my symptoms.  My skin had become my biggest insecurity.  It was raw, red, scaly, textured, blistered and extremely itchy.  My vanity was raging mad.
So  when I was advised to get tested for food allergies.  I was doubtful.  No way could it really be that I was eating.  Was I in for a shock.  I was so wrong.  My results indicated I was intolerant of gluten, dairy and egg among other things.  But I was willing to try anything for relief. I went cold turkey and eliminated these from my diet.  The itchiness stopped and the redness decreased with two weeks.  After a month of skin cleared up including my psoriasis.  My headaches stopped.  The stomach pains and bloating eased.  I have not had swelling for a while.  So i have been riding this gluten and dairy free train and have been doing well.  I have been doing a lot of research and figuring things out as I go along.   I am constantly reading labels to see if gluten is an additive from my ketsup to my soy sauce.  I kid you not, I carry Gluten free soy sauce in my purse.  Just in case.  It has honestly been the best thing I have down for my body.  my life and hey, my energy is back.  My parents, and boyfriend are very supportive and help me out.  My mom is constantly online looking for recipes and products I can use.  I have become savvy with my skin care products that are also gluten free now.  I have even lost a significant amount of weight, with just the elimination of gluten and dairy in my foods.  Who knew?!? So that has been an added bonus.
I plan to share everything I have gleaned from my small steps and yes, even my stumbles.  I know what it is like to be scared to eat and worrying about having another flare up.  And I want to share my journey with all of you.

Scrapbooking Mixed Media layout: Yoda Ears

I completed a fun layout using a picture of my doxie, Zoe, as she stands on her hind legs and her ears flap up like Yoda Ears.  It was taken a day at the park where she loves to run and play.
Here are the list of supplies used:

  • American Crafts blush card stock
  • Dear Lizzy Serendipity Stencil
  • Dylusion Spray ink- funky fuscia
  • My Mind's Eye- Jubilee wild berry die cuts
  • Crate Paper- Maggie Holmes Flea Market Gold Foil Thickers
  • Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spray in Gold
  • Recollections Pink Chevron ribbon
  • MME- Jubilee Wild Berry Enamel dots
Here is my process video:

Thank you so much for stopping by,

Evi

Scrapbook Process: Enjoy the Journey

The contents of this layout are once again from the February Hip Kit Club.  These pictures are from a cruise we took a few months ago looking out into the sunset.  It was beautiful to capture.  
The supplies used for this layout include:

  • Amy Tangerine: Stitched: Garden Party
  • My Mind's Eye: Jubilee Wild Berry: Inked paper
  • Heidi Swapp: September Skies: Dusk paper
  • My Mind's Eye: Rub- ons
  • MME: Jubilee Wild Berry Die Cuts
  • MME- Enamel dots
  • American Crafts Thickers: Gold Foil Tiles
Thank you for watching and please subscribe.

Evi

Scrapbook Mixed Media Process: My Doxie Zoe


In this layout I have used the contents of my February Hip Kit Club.  This is my first time with a subscription service and have been thrilled with the supplies one receives with the kit.  The picture I used for this layout is of my mini doxie Zoe and me at the park.  She just loves to run around solo at the park and chase birds.  This was her after running with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.  She is my spoiled little princess.  

Supplies used in this layout include: 

  • We R Memory Keepers: Love Notes: Secret Crush patterned paper
  • Heidi Swapp: September Skies: Dusk Paper
  • Artist Loft Modeling Paste
  • Craft Smart Paint in Citron/Pink/ Robin's Egg
  • Crafter's Workshop Stencil in Circle Explosion.
  • Heidi Swapp Stencil in Latice.
  • Distress Ink in Scattered Straw/ Shaded Lilac/ Spun sugar/ Evergreen bough
  • My Mind's Eye- Jubilee Wild Berry Die cuts
  • American Crafts Thickers: Gold Foil Tiles
Here is my process video: